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US 12,644,062 B2Granted
Belly blade mounted to center of mower equipment
AssigneeArlington Power Equipment, Inc.
InventorsRobert Saranzak, Donald Saranzak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to improvements in snow removal vehicles. A vehicle is disclosed, wherein the vehicle may have a reduced turning radius, or a zero-turn radius. The present disclosure also relates to improvements in snow shovels attached to the vehicle, including disclosure directed to a snow shovel mounted to the middle of the vehicle, rather than to the vehicle's front. Further yet, the present application discloses a snow shovel which is interchangeable with a mower attachment, thereby allowing a vehicle to be used as a snow plow or as a mower.
Claims27
A zero radius turn vehicle, the vehicle comprising:
- a frame having a front edge and a rear edge;
- a pair of front wheels, the pair of front wheels comprising a left front wheel mounted on a left wheel mount extending from the front edge of the frame wherein the left front wheel is configured to rotate freely within the left wheel mount;
- and a right front wheel mounted on a right wheel mount extending from the front edge of the frame wherein the right front wheel is configured to rotate freely within the right wheel mount;
- a pair of rear wheels mounted to a rear portion of the frame and controlled by steering rods configured to execute a zero-radius turn, the pair of rear wheels comprising a left rear wheel and a right rear wheel wherein a speed and direction of rotation control of the left rear wheel and a speed and direction of rotation control of the right rear wheel are controlled by the steering rods, wherein the steering rods operate independent of each other such that the left rear wheel operates independent of the right rear wheel wherein the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel move in opposite directions when executing the zero radius turn about the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear wheels;
- the pair of front wheels are configured to permit the vehicle to execute the zero radius turn about the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear wheels;
- an engine mounted to the frame and coupled to the pair of rear wheels;
- a seat mounted to the frame and positioned between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear wheels;
- a plow frame mounted to the frame;
- a plow shovel, the plow shovel being mounted to the plow frame between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear wheels;
- and
- a hinge connecting the plow frame to the plow shovel;
- and
- a plow shovel control lever affixed to the plow shovel wherein the plow shovel control lever is configured to maneuver the position of the plow shovel around the hinge in relation to the frame.
10 more elements
A zero radius turn vehicle for removing snow, the vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle frame of a lawn mower, having a front edge portion and having a removable mower deck;
- a pair of front wheels mounted to the vehicle frame and a pair of rear wheels mounted to the vehicle frame;
- the pair of front wheels comprising a left front wheel mounted on a left mounting mechanism at the front edge portion of the frame wherein the left front wheel is configured to rotate freely within the left mounting mechanism;
- and a right front wheel mounted on a right mounting mechanism at the front edge portion of the frame wherein the right front wheel is configured to rotate freely within the right mounting mechanism;
- the pair of rear wheels comprising a left rear wheel where a speed and direction of rotation are controlled by a left steering rod and a right rear wheel where a speed and direction are controlled by a right steering rod wherein the left steering rod operates independent of the right steering rod such that the when both the right steering rod and left steering rod are pushed forward simultaneously with a force, the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel move forward;
- when both the right steering rod and the left steering rod are pulled back simultaneously with the same force, the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel move backward and pushing either the right steering rod or the left steering rod forward while pulling the other steering rod back causes the wheels to move in opposite directions executing a zero radius turn about the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear wheels;
- the pair of front wheels are configured to permit the vehicle to execute the zero radius turn about the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear wheels;
- an engine mounted to the vehicle frame and coupled to one of the pair of front wheels or the pair of rear wheels to capable of powering the vehicle;
- a stand-on frame connected to the vehicle frame in proximity to the pair of rear wheels;
- a belly blade apparatus moveably fastened to the vehicle frame in a generally central location in the general location of the mower deck below the frame between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear wheels;
- the belly blade apparatus including a body having a frame mount wherein the belly blade apparatus is mounted to the vehicle frame at the frame mount;
- the belly blade apparatus including a snowplow blade rotatably affixed to the frame mount of the belly blade body by a hinge mechanism;
- a hydraulic cylinder affixed to the belly blade body and the snowplow blade, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is configured to rotate the blade about the rotatable hinge about a first axis relative to the frame;
- and
- a mechanism to move the snowplow blade about a second axis relative to the frame.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.